Team Columbia-Highroad sprinter Mark Cavendish struck again on the final day of the Tirreno-Adriatico stage race in Italy, winning the sprint with an impressive burst of speed.

It was Cavendish’s fifth win of the season and the 11th win for Team Columbia-Highroad’s men.

Cavendish got a perfect lead out from his team mates in the final  kilometre of the high-speed finish. George Hincapie pulled Cavendish clear of the other sprinters, then when Daniele Bennati started his sprint early, Cavendish got on his wheel before accelerated past him.

Stage three winner Tyler Farrar was on Cavendish’s wheel but did not have the speed to threaten him.

“The other day I was beaten on the line, so I had a point to prove today,” Cavendish said. “I wasn’t out for revenge because I like to win every race I ride, but
I wanted to prove I’m the fastest.”

“The team rode perfectly yet again. They kept the break under control and then I had the perfect lead out. Bennati went but I was able to get past him quite easily.”  

Team Columbia-Highroad also placed two riders in the top ten of the overall standings. Thomas Lovkvist of Sweden was fourth, 1:10 behind Scarponi, and
Kanstantsin Siutsou was ninth at 2:41. Lovkvist also won the best young rider’s competition after strong performances in Sunday’s 30km time trial and Monday’s decisive mountain stage. Lovkvist beat Italy’s Vincenzo Nibali and Robert Gesink of the Netherlands.

Team Columbia-Highroad now heads to Milan for Saturday’s Milan-San Remo race.